Sex Maketh the State

From the streets of the Red Light District in Amsterdam to the neon glow of adult shops in Thailand, everywhere around us is the reminder that prostitution is an enduring facet of humanity. However, different cultures, nations, religions and countries have vastly different views on the sex and the industry that fuels it. But beyond pure humanitarian value, sex work is a powerful diplomatic tool. Wielded by governments and national leaders alike, sex is not only used as a soft power in inter-country diplomatic bargaining but has economic, social and political values as well. In a world where sex culture, perceptions and beliefs collide, how is sex work a form of national projection?

Nations around the world have vastly different stances on sex and the sex industry itself. What they say about sex often says a lot about their political ideology, economic stance and global perception. On one end of the spectrum of regulation, countries such as Germany and the Netherlands justify sex work as a labor concern instead of an ethical or moral one. These countries not only use sex as an economic tool but also for political and cultural branding. Amsterdam’s Red Light District is a global attraction, encouraging sexual progressiveness and liberalism whilst also generating the Netherlands millions in revenue every year. Tourism heavy nations like Thailand unofficially rely on the industry to attract tourists in the know how while keeping prostitution illegal. By allowing the government to maintain plausible deniability, they can strategically monitor or turn a blind eye to this informal sector as they choose, establishing an alternative source of revenue that they can tap into in times of economic downturn. In some cases, sex can even be a diplomatic bargaining chip. Many high profile business conferences and executive meetings employ escort services, gently and discreetly loosening tense environments and facilitating business negotiations. One such notable example is the Bloomberg and Forbes report on the annual Davos summit - where world leaders and prominent business tycoons convene to tackle questions of morality, gender inequality- fuels a surge in prostitution in the Swiss resort town and boosts the sex industry every year.

In stark contrast, nations like the US, Saudi Arabia and Russia follow strict anti-prostitution laws, often asserting a moral superiority in diplomatic negotiations. In the US, foreign policy in the past was aimed at anti-sex trafficking efforts, leveraging the public and government disdain for the sex industry against other nations. Saudi Arabia, an Islamic nation, believes it is wrong to practice prostitution, let alone support a sex industry. Acting as defenders of the Islamic morality, they do not condone the free practice of sex work. However, there are whispers of elite-run underground sex rings that the state turns a blind eye against to maintain professional and transactional relationships with. In a confidential 2009 memo

reported by Forbes, reports surfaced of lavish drug and sex parties hosted by Saudi princes in Jeddah, considered Islam’s holiest city, sparking controversy. Despite the harshest conditions, the trade finds a way to survive.

But just as sex is the interaction of different parties, the industry has global implications and is a battlefield for individual rights. International groups like the UN and EU disagree on whether sex can or should be considered ‘work’ or if it is exploitative to its workers. This clash over labor protection poses a challenge in policy decisions: should sex be a form of legitimized work? Meanwhile, the US Global Gag Rule on Sex Work, a dangerous anti-abortion policy set by Raegan in 1984 and reinforce by Trump in 2017, prevents foreign organizing receiving US aid from providing abortion services. Since US aid played such a major role in shaping developing countries such as those in Africa or Asia, this law is a direct impedance on women’s rights and freedom of speech. By prohibiting abortion abroad, through sex, the US can effectively shape and coerce other economies.

It’s not over yet for the sex industry. As attitudes and trends towards sex shift and evolve, the future brings more hope. With more countries becoming more gender-conscious in their culture and approaches to diplomacy, progressive countries are pushing for more rights, with former sex workers like Kaniya Walker turning into impassioned and inspiring campaigners for change. With increased online platforms  and the evolution of digital sex work, many hope that previous grievances on sex will soon be removed. Civil rights activists call for the removal of the FOSTA law which intended to prohibit website from the promoting sex trafficking but has only contributed to economic instability for 72% of sex workers and shut down conversations about sex education and sex work, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. Despite all claims of transparency and morality, it is undeniable that sex work is deeply strategic. Whether as an economic tool, political incentive or ethical battlefield, sex and the sex industry still remain one of the most complex and invisible forces propelling global diplomacy. Sex work is more than just the oldest profession - it is a mirror for global power, a powerful economic tool and a force that shapes the very fabric of diplomacy. Whether celebrated, condemned or exploited, the influence of sex on the world stage remains undeniable.